CIRCULAR THINKING

Before the pandemic, few in the lighting industry used the terms ‘remanufacturing’, ‘circularity’ or ‘embedded carbon’.

Yet today, these words are increasingly common currency, bounced around between specifiers and manufacturers as the environmental credentials of luminaires come increasingly under the spotlight.

While it’s remarkable how far we’ve come in the last few years, it’s clear that we’re only in the foothills of what will probably be a journey, not a destination.

The increasing interest in – and yes, passion for – sustainable lighting was demonstrated last September when the UK’s first event dedicated to the topic had to turn away delegates. Such was its popularity.

Circular Lighting Live, a one-day conference and exhibition organised by UK’s leading environmental compliance authority Recolight, was instant success on its launch in 2022.

It brought together 250 of the lighting industry’s top executives to consider how our sector can become part of the circular economy.

They considered the legislative and regulatory landscape, the opportunities and challenges of the emerging lighting remanufacturing ‘ecosystem’, 3D printing, circular design, what to do with end-of-life luminaires and sustainable materials including bioplastics.

For 2023, the organisers have moved to a much bigger venue with more expansive exhibition floor and included a dedicated track for lighting designers.

Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2023 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models.

Aimed at the full supply chain, including manufacturers, suppliers and specifiers, it takes place on Thursday 21 September 2023 at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Exhibitors include ASD Lighting, BELL Lighting, EGG Lighting, Feilo Sylvania, Glamox Luxonic, Llumarlite, Regen, Signify, Silent Design, Trilux, Urbis Schreder, Holophane and Smart Systems UK. ■